Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-01-04

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From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 1081), January 4, 1997

Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[01] Inner cabinet examines work ahead

[02] Pangalos dismisses press reports citing disagreements with Rozakis

[03] Mitsotakis statements

[04] Simitis in hospital today for minor surgery

[05] Turkish submarine sails past Evia en route to Spain

[06] Cultural Capital's four-month art exhibitions program unveiled

[07] Thessaloniki residents go on show during Cultural Capital events

[08] ND leadership to discuss terms of party congress on Tuesday

[09] Bakoyianni

[10] Evert response

[11] Romaios starts Epirus tour to discuss region's problems

[12] New horse-track wagers announced

[13] Trainee officer provides additional statements on Distos capsizing

[14] Prosecutors to investigate press report of falsified TV ratings

[15] National Bank announces changes in interest rates

[16] Housing loan exemption for Thrace region

[17] Efforts begin to gain 'Blue Flags' for Greek beaches, marinas

[01] Inner cabinet examines work ahead

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

The meeting focused on growth-related issues with emphasis on the need to overcome long-lasting structural problems in the economy as well as the need to initiate a series of institutional reforms.

The meeting also touched on Greece's national issues.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas later told reporters the meeting focused on a series of changes which need to be instituted in regional administration, the need to speed up privatizations and investments, materialization of major projects and a more systematic development of local initiatives. It also centered on social dialogue and the strict observation of the 1997 budget, which the government considers to be the key to the country's course towards convergence. The meeting also discussed relations between ruling party PASOK and government with special emphasis on party support for the government's work.

[02] Pangalos dismisses press reports citing disagreements with Rozakis

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

Speaking during a cabinet meeting at noon, Mr. Pangalos praised Mr. Rozakis' work at the ministry, calling press reports of alleged political friction between them as being "unfounded."

Mr. Rozakis resigned his post citing health reasons which "need special attention." In a later press release he expressed regret, however, over what he termed as "unfair" attacks made against him.

Meanwhile, in reiterating that Mr. Rozakis had resigned because of health problems, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that many of the foreign under-secretary's political opinions had been endorsed by the government.

Describing as "friendly" relations between Mr. Rozakis and Premier Simitis, Mr. Reppas said the foreign under-secretary "is a useful scholar for the government and will be used in foreign policy missions in the future." He again said that Mr. Rozakis had suffered a heart attack on Dec. 18 and had been told to rest by his physicians.

Mr. Simitis accepted the foreign under-secretary's resignation on Thursday, but urged him to remain at his office until he has completed his unfinished assignments and to participate in scheduled meetings.

According to Mr. Reppas and other ministers, the Inner Cabinet meeting stressed that the country's national strategy remains stable and that the value of the principle of collective decisions must continue in order for concerns to be expressed openly, and for alternative possibilities to be explored in regular handlings of national issues.

Replying to press questions, he denied that differing views were expressed by Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis and National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos during the meeting.

According to Mr. Reppas, Mr. Arsenis said the country's foreign policy remains stable, expresses all members of the government, is binding and that it is to the advantage of all.

"Government policy is exercised by the government, but first, talks are held in government bodies and ideas and views are submitted in a free and unbiased manner, afterwards, through the combination of these views, the final policy which will be followed is formed..."

[03] Mitsotakis statements

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

"Mr. Rozakis' resignation proves, unfortunately, that there is no unity in the planning of the government's foreign policy," Mr. Mitsotakis said, adding that in view of today's tough problems, the government's foreign policy should be dealt with seriously and with responsibility.

[04] Simitis in hospital today for minor surgery

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Simitis will undergo a laparotomy - the surgical cutting of the abdominal wall - and is expected to be discharged on Sunday.

The announcement said the surgery had been scheduled for some time.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that the prime minister had expressed his wish that the mass media not keep a vigil at the hospital throughout the weekend and that he had requested friends not visit him so as to no disrupt the smooth running o f the hospital.

He clarified that there was no urgency involved in the surgery, saying that it had been postponed a number of times due to the prime minister's duties.

[05] Turkish submarine sails past Evia en route to Spain

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

Greek warships discreetly monitored the submarine during its passage through Greek territorial waters, reports stated.

[06] Cultural Capital's four-month art exhibitions program unveiled

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

The program is budgeted at about 400 million drachmas- a third of the 1.2 billion drachmas estimated for the entire art program for 1997 - and was prepared in co-operation with foreign cultural institutes in the city (German, French, Italian and British).

Events are due to start on Tuesday with the inauguration of an exhibition with 62 sculptures and collages by Max Ernst at the Municipal Gallery in Thessaloniki. The exhibition includes photographs and documents from the surrealist artist's tumultuous life.

An exhibition with works by German artists Georg Baselitz will begin at the Goethe Institut on Wednesday and last until Jan. 28, while a double exhibition by Sarkis will start on Thursday in co-operation with the French Institute.

Works by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio will be on display at the Governor's Mansion from April 16 to June 15.

[07] Thessaloniki residents go on show during Cultural Capital events

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

Some 30 young artists sketched passers-by and revelers during the night-long party to celebrate the beginning of the Cultural Capital events on Tuesday night. The 470 portraits will be put on show on a specially-constructed archway near the former Royal Theater, currently under renovation.

[08] ND leadership to discuss terms of party congress on Tuesday

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

The meeting will also attempt to find common ground between Mr. Varvitsiotis' proposal for the congress to be expanded and Mr. Souflias' views.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Mr. Souflias reportedly objected to the fact that Mr. Evert called a joint Parliamentary group and central committee meeting for Thursday in order to discuss the congress. The former minister maintains that the joint meeting should have been scheduled for discussion during the Tuesday gathering.

An announcement by Mr. Souflias' press office said "the date for the joint convening of the Parliamentary group and the central committee, at which Mr. Evert had committed himself, that the causes of the defeat (in the last general elections) would be discussed had not been set for two months," adding:

"With his (Mr. Evert) own responsibility three months of inertia have already passed without necessary political decisions being taken for the congress."

"It is necessary for the Parliamentary group to discuss and express purely and autonomously its political volition on the congress and then the two bodies be jointly convened. The course towards an honest and representative congress is not served with expediencies and tactical moves. It is only served if all show necessary boldness, responsibility and goodwill in finding the necessary solutions for such a congress," the press release stated.

According to sources close to ND Vice-President, Mr. Varvitsiotis kept his distances from both sides, concentrating on a political agreement, regardless of whether his proposal is followed.

[09] Bakoyianni

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

Assessing the causes of ND's defeat in last September's general elections Ms Bakoyianni said "we let PASOK have a free hand in infiltrating and capturing the moderate center electorate, we turned the party into a mechanism for personal vindication, we d id not plan our strategy in an effective way, we lost our seriousness and failed to win the battle, we did not prepare ourselves for the post-Papandreou era, and we left Mr. Simitis unimpeded to build his so-called central profile, we cultivated complacency and misused opinion polls, while concerted strategy was absent and no serious preparation was made for three whole years."

She said what is necessary is clarification of the party's ideology, an opening to society, the party should acquire its clout and those serving the logic of shrinking should be isolated.

[10] Evert response

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

"It is certain that no one disagrees that the course towards an honest and representative congress is not served by expediencies and tactical maneuovres, or by successive proposals which flagrantly violate the charter, the democratic tradition and legality of the party," the statement read.

In a counter-response, aides to Mr. Souflias said "the democratic legality cannot be invoked by people who do not serve it and do not wish democratic procedures."

Meanwhile, sources close to ND party headquarters, commenting on Ms Bakoyianni's speech, said she was "trying to sabotage in advance smooth procedures towards the congress."

Replying to comments by sources in party headquarters, circles close to Ms Bakoyianni stated: "Truth hurts and with ostrich-like tactics no one ever helped the party and country."

[11] Romaios starts Epirus tour to discuss region's problems

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

"We will discuss the problems of the region in co-operation with local authorities and we will visit the border region in an effort to achieve a better presence of the police," he said.

On the question of cases of corruption appearing in the police force at times, Mr. Romaios reiterated that "the message we gave, namely the message of self-catharsis, will be accepted. We will apply the system of sources of income and assign prosecutors with administrative investigations. We are seriously preoccupied with the issue of corruption. It is on a limited scale of course but it exists."

Referring to the latest robberies in Athens, Mr. Romaios said the taking of additional measures was agreed at a meeting held in the morning.

[12] New horse-track wagers announced

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

The organization's president announced that as of next month, horse-track fans will be able to bet on a new "supertrifecta" and "supertricast" wagers, while the daily double will also be used in booking offices.

In the supertrifecta, the first three horses irrespective of order, will have to be picked in all the day's races, while in the supertricast, the first three horses will have to be predicted in the order in which they will finish, also for all the day's races.

Both the supertrifecta and supertricast require the better to place wagers on all races with a minimum of eight horses competing, except if they are from the same yard. The lowest wager in both cases, as well as in the daily double, will be set at 200 drachmas.

[13] Trainee officer provides additional statements on Distos capsizing

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

Relatives of three seamen still missing people on board the vessel at the time of the accident were eagerly awaiting to obtain additional information from trainee officer Evangelos Anagnostou, but failed to do so.

Seventeen seamen, two wives of the crew, and a 12-year-old daughter of one of the crew-members died in the capsizing of the Distos. Only three of the bodies have not been recovered.

Meanwhile, an inquiry into possible negligence by the five coast-guard officers on the night of the accident was completed yesterday, and the findings will be made known in the next few days, reports state.

The five officers have been suspended from duty by Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis.

[14] Prosecutors to investigate press report of falsified TV ratings

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

The newspaper made the allegations after AGB had given minimal ratings to a program on Channel 5, which belongs to the same media group, owned by Giorgos Kouris.

[15] National Bank announces changes in interest rates

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

It said variable rates on housing loans will drop by 0.50 per cent, from 15.25 per cent to 14.75 per cent.

The new base lending rates on fixed assets will drop by 1.25 per cent, from 16.25 per cent to 15 per cent while the base lending rate on liquid assets will fall by 0.75 per cent, from 17.50 per cent to 16.75 per cent.

Credit lending rates will drop by 1.0 per cent, from 23.75 per cent to 22.75 per cent.

The new personal lending rate will fall by 0.75 per cent, from 24.75 per cent to 24 per cent while the personal credit rate will drop by 0.25 per cent, from 26.25 per cent to 26.0 per cent.

Interest rates on deposit accounts will drop by 0.50 per cent, from 10.75 per cent to 10.25 per cent.

The interest rate on current accounts is also set to fall by 0.50 per cent, from 9.25 per cent to 8.75 per cent.

[16] Housing loan exemption for Thrace region

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

The exemption applies to loan applications submitted from Jan. 1, 1996 to June 30, 1996, and is aimed at helping people in the recently flood-stricken Xanthi prefecture residents.

The decision included in a document addressed to National Economy Ministry secretary general Apostolos Fotiadis by the president of the Deposits and Loans Fund board, Panayiotis Alexopoulos.

According to Mr. Fotiadis, approval for all loan applications submitted in the second half of 1996 by the Deposits and Loans Fund for Thrace are expected by the end of the month.

[17] Efforts begin to gain 'Blue Flags' for Greek beaches, marinas

Athens, 04/01/1997 (ANA)

The Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) announced that municipalities and communities with organized beaches and marinas can submit applications for entry until Jan. 20.

Applications will be examined by a national judging committee in early February. The areas winning awards will be announced in June after the final decision is taken by a relevant European committee.

The most important criteria for the awarding of blue flags are excellent organization and management of a marina or beach, availability of information for the public and bathers' safety, environmental protection as well as the results of a 15-day analysis of the site's water.

End of English language section.

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